Saul and Elaine Bass research

 

Saul and Elaine Bass 

 

 

 

 

I want to make beautiful things, even if nobody cares, as opposed to ugly things. That’s my intent. 

—SAUL BASS 

 

 

Elaine Bass born in New York in 1927 is an American title designer and filmmaker, being the youngest of four siblings she is said to have shown great interest and potential in the arts. She then had a childhood singing career with her older sister coming to an end at the age of eighteen, when she took a job in the fashion industry sending designs and samples to multiple houses in New York. Things then took a turn when she heard that Saul Bass was looking for an assistant, she knew of his work, but the name was not so meaningful at the time. In 1961 Saul and Elaine married and after the birth of their two children. Elaine designed title sequences alongside Saul Bass for around 40 years, they worked on films such as: Spartacus, Walk on the Wild Side, Nine Hours to Rama, The Victors, Seconds, Grand Prix, The Age of Innocence, Mr. Saturday Night Most of her work in the film industry has gone uncredited witch is a great shame as she as well as her husband have had a profound impact on the film industry As Well as the way opening sequences are made. 

 

 

 

Saul Bass was born on May 8, 1920 and died on April 25, 1996. Saul was a Graphic designer and filmmaker, best known for his work on some of the world's most famous title sequences, as in his 40-year long career he worked with the likes of Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, Martin Scorsese. He has had a huge impact on the way that title sequences are seen and produced As Well in a time with limited resources back in the 50’s when possibility on the big screen was limited. He is best known for his work on: The man with the golden arm, North by northwest, Spartacus and Psycho. 

Their first project together was in 1964 at the World’s Fair, From Here to There and The Searching Eye. In 1968 they made the film Why Man Creates and ended up winning an Oscar. 

Toward the end of their career, Saul and Elaine were encouraged by James Brooks and Martin Scorsese to continue their work in title sequencing. They went on to create the title sequences for Goodfellas, Cape Fear, The Age of Innocence, and Casino as their last pieces of work. 

(The man with the golden arm title sequence) 

 
 

 

 

Opening title sequence from psycho (1960) 

Saul uses disjointed text that races together and apart imitating slashing movements to foreshadow the coming contents of the film. The use of black and white in the title sequence reflects the black and white film used in the duration of the film, even though most of Hitchcock's previous films where in colour, showing how Bass wanted to set the theme and mood in constant with the rest of the film, moreover the use of black and white in this title sequence As Well as the rest of the film shows how it is much darker than other films like the mind of psycho. In addition, the black and white contrast shown with divided linear sections suggests the difference between good and evil a theme constant in this film. 

Below are some further examples of Saul Bass title sequences:

Through looking at these examples we can see how the titles match the genre conventions of the film, furthermore the simplicity of  the theme adds to the feel of the sequence, in addition this also demonstrates impressive technology and design for the time period in which he was working.